India’s Hockey World Cup Semi-Final Hopes End After 3-5 Loss to Argentina

Wagener Hockey Stadium: The Indian Men’s Hockey Team suffered a heartbreaking 3–5 defeat to Argentina in their final Pool E match at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, ending their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

India needed a convincing multi-goal victory to overturn their goal difference and keep their last-four hopes alive. However, Argentina made a blistering start, scoring twice inside the opening six minutes.

Joaquin Toscani opened the scoring after just 41 seconds before Nicolas della Torre doubled Argentina’s advantage from a penalty corner in the sixth minute.

India responded in the 10th minute when Abhishek combined with Sukhjeet Singh, who finished a field goal to reduce the deficit to 1–2.

India struggled to break through Argentina’s compact defensive structure during a goalless second quarter. Argentina then took control after the interval, with Tomas Domene scoring from a counter-attack in the 33rd minute.

Domene converted a penalty stroke in the 45th minute before Lucas Toscani made it 5–1 in the 53rd minute, putting the result beyond India’s reach.

India mounted a late fightback. Sukhjeet scored his second goal of the match in the 58th minute, while Hardik Singh converted a penalty stroke in the final minute. The late surge, however, was not enough to change the outcome.

India will now face co-hosts Belgium in the 7th–8th place classification playoff on Friday as they look to finish their World Cup campaign on a positive note.